Case making machinery

ABSTRACT

A converting machine adapted to perform at least one step in the production of cases from rectangular blanks of corrugated board or similar sheet material, and of the kind which has a number of parts which can be adjusted laterally (that is in a direction transverse to the direction in which work passes through the machines) for the purpose of making cases of different size from blanks of different size, characterised by the provision of a laterally movable device which can be located at a position to be assumed by an adjustable part, a motor for moving said part laterally to the left or right, there being first switch means and first switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device, whereby as the part is moved into register with said device said first switch means is actuated to stop said motor, and second switch means and second switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device whereby said second switch means is actuated by movement of said device out of register with said part to signal to said motor in which direction the part should be moved when next adjusted in order to come into register once again with said device.

United States Patent [1 1 Johnson CASE MAKING MACHINERY [75] inventor: Frederick Paul Johnson,

Audenshaw, England [73] Assignee: Henry Simon Limited, Stockport,

Cheshire, England 22 Filed: Apr. 6, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 348,612

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 27, 1972 United Kingdom 19710/72 [52] US. Cl 93/58.2 R; 83/499; 83/504 [51] Int. Cl. B3lb H14 [58] Field of Search 83/498, 499, 500, 501, 83/502, 503,504, 479, 480, 425.4; 93/58 R,

Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-James F. Coan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norris & Bateman e" R is .510 /6a 34 /6b .33 Ida /6e 51 May 13, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A converting machine adapted to perform at least one step in the production of cases from rectangular blanks of corrugated board or similar sheet material, and of the kind which has a number of parts which can be adjusted laterally (that is in a direction transverse to the direction in which work passes through the machines) for the purpose of making cases of different size from blanks of different size, characterised by the provision of a laterally movable device which can be located at a position to be assumed by an adjustable part, a motor for moving said part laterally to the left or right, there being first switch means and first switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device, whereby as the part is moved into register with said device said first switch means is actuated to stop said motor, and second switch means and second switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device whereby said second switch means is actuated by movement of said device out of register with said part to signal to said motor in which direction the part should be moved when next adjusted in order to come into register once again with said device.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEB HAY 31975 SflEET 2 OF 2 CASE MAKING MACHINERY This invention concerns a converting machine adapted to perform at least one step in the production of cases from rectangular blanks of corrugated board or similar sheet material, and more particularly a converting machine of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) which has a number of parts which can be adjusted laterally (that is in a direction transverse to the direction in which work passes through the machines) for the purpose of making cases of different size from blanks of different size.

The present invention is more particularly concerned with means for setting the next required position for such adjustable parts whereby at the end of any one production run the parts can be moved rapidly and automatically to their newly required positions for the next production run.

According to the present invention, a converting machine of the kind referred to is characterised by the provision of a laterally movable device which can be located at a position to be assumed by an adjustable part, a motor for moving said part laterally to the left or right, there being first switch means and first switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device, whereby as the part is moved into register with said device said first switch means is actuated to stop said motor, and second switch means and second switch actuating means, one being movable with said part and the other being movable with said device whereby said second switch means is actuated by movement of said device out of register with said part to signal to said motor in which direction the part should be moved when next adjusted in order to come into register once again with said device.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of machine embodying the invention, and being a combined creasing and slotting machine.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation of the machine seen from the end which receives blanks to be processed;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section throughthe machine on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary view of part of the control equipment of the machine of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

and FIG. 5 shows the equipment of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrow A.

Referring now to the drawings it will be seen that the combined creasing and slotting machine essentially comprises three sections, namely a creasing section, a pulling section and a slotting section.

The creasing section comprises upper and lower transversely extending parallel shafts and 11. The upper shaft carries five axially spaced working parts comprised by four creasing heads 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and a trim chopping head 102, all of which co-operate with complementary heads 11a, 11b, 11 0, 11d and He carried by the lower shaft 11.

The pulling section comprises upper and lower transversely extending parallel shafts 12 and 13. The upper shaft 12 carries five axially spaced pulling rollers 12a,

12b, 12c, 12d and 122, which co-operate with complementary pulling rollers 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 132 carried by the lower shaft 13.

The slotting section comprises upper and lower transversely extending parallel shafts l4 and 15. The upper shaft 14 carries five axially spaced working parts comprised by a combined slotting and tab cutting head 14a, three slotting heads 14b, 14c and 14d and a trimming head 142, all of which co-operate with complementary heads 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d and 15e, carried by the lower shaft 15.

It will thus be understood that in each of the three sections of the machine there are five co-operating pairs of heads. The pairs of heads in each section are aligned with those in the other sections in the direction in which work passes through the machine.

The centre pairs of heads comprised by the parts suffixed 6 are fixed axially on their shafts, the remainder of the heads being adjustable laterally, that is axially on their shafts.

A first upper yoke plate is provided and extends over the parts 10a, 12a, and 14a, which parts are constrained to move laterally with the yoke plate 16:: by means of connecting members 17 (see FIG. 2). A first lower yoke plate 18:! extends beneath the parts 11a, 13a and 15a, which parts are connected to move laterally with the yoke plate l8a by means of connecting members 19. Similar yoke plates 1617, 1611, l6e are provided for the parts suffixed b, d and e respectively carried by the upper shafts 10, 12 and 14, as well as similar lower yoke plates 18b, 18d and 18e for the parts prefixed b, d and e respectively carried on the lower shafts 11, 13 and 15.

All of the upper yoke plates 16a, 16b, 16d and 16a are slidable laterally on bars 20 extending transversely of the machine, and all of the lower yoke plates 18a, 18b, 18d and are slidable laterally on bars 21 extending transversely of the machine in the lower region thereof.

Four upper lead screws 22 extend transversely of the machine and pass through apertures in the four upper yoke plates 16. Each of the upper yoke plates 16 is threadedly connected with an associated one of the upper lead screws 22 by means of a nut 23. Four lower lead screws 25 extends transversely of the machine and pass through apertures in the lower yoke plates 18. Each of the lower yoke plates 18 is threadedly connected with an associated one of the lower head screws 25 by means of a nut 26. Each of the lower lead screws 25 is connected with an associated one of the upper lead screws 22 by means of suitable gearing G. Each of the lead screws 22 is adapted to be driven in one or other direction by means of a motor M whereby its associated yoke plate 16 and the yoke plate 18 immediately therebeneath can be moved together laterally to the left or the right.

Extending transversely of the machine above the upper yoke plates 16 are four endless chains 30 each of which carries a device 31 to be referred to in greater detail hereinafter.

Each of the endless chains 30 may be adjusted manually by means of an associated calibrated and lockable hand-wheel 32, whereby the positions of the four devices 31 can be adjusted independently.

The four devices 31 are associated with the four pairs of yoke plates respectively. As best seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 each device 31 comprises a block which mounts two switch actuating devices 33 and 34 respectively. The switch actuating devices 33 and 34 are arranged and positioned to co-operated with switches 35 and 36 carried on the associated upper yoke plate 16. The switch 35 is arranged to stop the motor which drives the lead screw 22 threadedly connected with the associated yoke plate 16, whilst the switch 36 is connected to the motor to determine the direction in which it drives the lead screw 22.

In use, with the power supply to the motors for adjusting the lead screws 22 cut off, the devices 31 may be moved by means of the hand-wheels 32 to the positions required by their associated yoke plates and hence operational parts for the next production run. As each device 31 is moved to the new position the switch 36 of its associated yoke plate is set to ensure that when the motor driving the associated lead screw 22 is next energized, it will drive the associated yoke plate to the right or left as is required.

Prior to resetting the machine, the male and female slotting heads carried on the shafts 14 and 15 should be engaged to ensure that they are precisely positioned relative to one another at the end of adjustment cycle. Adjustment of the parts is automatically and rapidly effected by energising the motors to cause the yoke plates and their associated parts to move to the new and required positions, each yoke plate stopping at precisely the required position when its associated switch 35 is actuated by coming into register with the associated actuator 33.

if between successive production runs the adjustment of any device 31 is so small as not to operate the switch 36 correctly the yoke plate associated therewith might move off initially in the wrong direction, in which case the associated switch 35 would be operated causing the motor to reverse, to reverse the direction of travel of the yoke plate and bring it to the exact required position.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus, the principles of the invention may be applied to other kinds of converting machine such as folder gluers when the equipment would be used to preset the required positions for the folding rails and glue pot.

Equally the equipment of the invention may control an entire line of converting machinery the positions of adjustable parts in machines to either side in the line of the creasing and slotting machine being determined from the positions which the movable parts of the creasing and slotting machine assume on adjustment.

The switch means need not be mounted on the adjustable parts, but on the movable devices; if desired, the switch actuators then being mounted on the adjustable parts.

The switch means need not be comprised by microswitches but by other types of switch such as photo electric devices for example.

The laterally movable devices 31 need not be controlled by manually operable hand-wheels but may be controlled by motor means whereby the entire process of resetting the machine may be automated, as for example, under the control of a computer.

We claim:

1. in a converting machine having a tool adapted to perform an operation upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, a support for said tool, means mounting said tool for adjustment 5 along said support laterally of said direction, an adjustment member mounted for displacement laterally of said direction and having a motion transmitting connection with said tool, an electric motor operably connected to said adjustment member and selectively operable to positively laterally displace said adjustment member for positioning said tool laterally of said direction, a tool positional control device mounted for movement laterally of said direction independently of said adjustment member, stop switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, directional switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, means for adjusting said device to set it in a desired position corresponding to that to be assumed by said tool and at the same time automatically setting said motor directional switch means so that when the motor is next energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction toward said desired position, and means for energizing said motor for adjusting said tool toward said desired position, said stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that said motor is stopped when said tool reaches said desired position.

2. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said switch means are secured to said tool, and the actuating means therefor are secured to said device.

3. A converting machine according to claim 1 or including calibrated means for selective positioning of said laterally movable device.

4. A converting machine according to claim 3, including manual calibrated means for positioning of said laterally movable device.

5. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said tool is fixed upon an adjustable part in screw-threaded connection with a lead screw connected to be driven in either rotational direction by said motor.

6. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said switch means are micro-switches.

7. in the converting machine defined in claim 1, there being an axially spaced row of said tools, a laterally adjustable control device for each tool, and cooperating switch means and switch actuating means for each tool.

8. In the converting machine defined in claim 7 there being a parallel row of tools with coacting pairs of tools in the respective rows connected for lateral movement togetherv 9. In a converting machine having a row of axially spaced tools adapted to perform operations upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tools for adjustment laterally of said direction, electric motors operably connected to independently positively laterally displace said tools, a 65 plurality of tool positional control devices, one for each tool, mounted for movement independently of said tools laterally of said direction, stop switch means mounted on parts mounted on each of said adjustable tools, stop switch actuating means mounted on each of said devices, directional switch means mounted on each of said parts, directional switch operating means mounted on each said devices, means for indepen dently adjusting each of said devices to set them in positions immediately adjacent and corresponding to that to be assumed by the associated tool and at the same time setting the corresponding motor directional switch so that when the motor is next energized it will effect movement of said part and the tool in the required direction, and means for independently energizing said motors for adjusting said tools toward desired positions, each said stop switch and coacting switch actuating means being so constructed and arranged to contact one another, whereby each motor is stopped when the driven tool reached desired position.

10. In a converting machine as defined in claim 9, each of said parts being a laterally adjustable yoke plate operably connected to a tool and there being a stop switch actuating means and a directional switch actuating means adjacently mounted on each yoke plate.

11. In a converting machine as defined in claim 10, each yoke plate having a threaded connection to a lead screw driven by one of said motors.

12. In a converting machine as defined in claim 9, there being parallel rows of said tools, with coacting pairs of tools in the respective rows connected for lateral adjustment together.

13. In a combined creasing and slotting machine having a creasing section, a pulling section and a slotting section, and having tools adapted to perform operations upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tools for adjustment laterally of said direction, there being upper and lower transversely extending parallel shafts in each said section with a plurality of axially spaced tools axially slidably mounted on said upper shafts and cooperating axially spaced tools axially slidably mounted on said lower shafts, a plurality of laterally adjustable upper yoke plates operatively connected to respective tools on the upper shafts, a plurality of laterally adjustable lower yoke plates constrained to move with associated upper yoke plates and operably connected to respective tools on the lower shafts, and electric motors operably connected to positively laterally displace each associated pair of tools, a tool positional control device for each associated pair of upper and lower tools mounted for movement laterally of said direction, stop switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with each associated pair of tools and the other being mounted to be movable with the associated device, directional switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with the associated device, means for independently adjusting said devices to set each in a position corresponding to that to be assumed by the associated tool and at the same time setting said motor directional switch means so that when the motor is energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction, said means for independently energizing said motors for adjusting said tools toward desired position, each stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that the associated motor is stopped when the tool reaches its desired position.

14. In a converting machine having a tool adapted to perform an operation upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tool for adjustment laterally of said direction comprising an electric motor operably connected to positively laterally displace said tool, a tool positional control device mounted for movement laterally of said direction, calibrated means for selective positioning of said laterally movable device, said movable device being carried on an endless chain driven by means of said calibrated means, stop switch means and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, directional switch means and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, means for adjusting said device to set it in a position corresponding to that to be assumed by said tool and at the same time setting said motor directional switch means so that when the motor is energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction, and means for energizing said motor for adjusting said tool toward said position, said stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that said motor is stopped when said tool reaches said position.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFIQATE @F CRRECTION PATENT NO. 3 3,882,764

DATED May 13, 1975 INVENTOR(S) Frederick Paul Johnson It is certifi ed that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 45, change "extends" to --extend--.

Column 3, line 3, change "co-operated" to --cooperate-.

Column 5, line 16, change "reached" to -reaches-.

Column 6, line 14, change "said" to --and-.

Signed and Sealed this twenty-second D3) Of July 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH c. MASON cmasruu. DANN Arresting Officer a Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks 

1. In a converting machine having a tool adapted to perform an operation upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, a support for said tool, means mounting said tool for adjustment along said support laterally of said direction, an adjustment member mounted for displacement laterally of said direction and having a motion transmitting connection with said tool, an electric motor operably connected to said adjustment member and selectively operable to positively laterally displace said adjustment member for positioning said tool laterally of said direction, a tool positional control device mounted for movement laterally of said direction independently of said adjustment member, stop switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, directional switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, means for adjusting said device to set it in a desired position corresponding to that to be assumed by said tool and at the same time automatically setting said motor directional switch means so that when the motor is next energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction toward said desired position, and means for energizing said motor for adjusting said tool toward said desired position, said stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that said motor is stopped when said tool reaches said desired position.
 2. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said switch means are secured to said tool, and the actuating means therefor are secured to said device.
 3. A converting machine according to claim 1 or including calibrated means for selective positioning of said laterally movable device.
 4. A converting machine according to claim 3, including manual calibrated means for positioning of said laterally movable device.
 5. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said tool is fixed upon an adjustable part in screw-threaded connection with a lead screw connected to be driven in either rotational direction by said motor.
 6. A converting machine according to claim 1 wherein said switch means are micro-switches.
 7. In the converting machine defined in claim 1, there being an axially spaced row of said tools, a laterally adjustable control device for each tool, and cooperating switch means and switch actuating means for each tool.
 8. In the converting machine defined in claim 7 there being a parallel row of tools with coacting pairs of tools in the respective rows connected for lateral movement together.
 9. In a converting machine having a row of axially spaced tools adapted to perform operations upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tools for adjustment laterally of said direction, electric motors operably connected to independently positively laterally displace said tools, a plurality of tool positional control devices, one for each tool, mounted for movement independently of said tools laterally of said direction, stop switch means mounted on parts mounted on each of said adjustable tools, stop switch actuating means mounted on each of said devices, directional switch means mounted on each of said parts, directional switch operating means mounted on each said devices, means for independently adjusting each of said devices to set them in positions immediately adjacent and corresponding to that to be assumed by the associated tool and at the same time setting the corresponding motor directional switch so that when the motor is next energized it will effect movement of said part and the tool in the required direction, and means for Independently energizing said motors for adjusting said tools toward desired positions, each said stop switch and coacting switch actuating means being so constructed and arranged to contact one another, whereby each motor is stopped when the driven tool reached desired position.
 10. In a converting machine as defined in claim 9, each of said parts being a laterally adjustable yoke plate operably connected to a tool and there being a stop switch actuating means and a directional switch actuating means adjacently mounted on each yoke plate.
 11. In a converting machine as defined in claim 10, each yoke plate having a threaded connection to a lead screw driven by one of said motors.
 12. In a converting machine as defined in claim 9, there being parallel rows of said tools, with coacting pairs of tools in the respective rows connected for lateral adjustment together.
 13. In a combined creasing and slotting machine having a creasing section, a pulling section and a slotting section, and having tools adapted to perform operations upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tools for adjustment laterally of said direction, there being upper and lower transversely extending parallel shafts in each said section with a plurality of axially spaced tools axially slidably mounted on said upper shafts and cooperating axially spaced tools axially slidably mounted on said lower shafts, a plurality of laterally adjustable upper yoke plates operatively connected to respective tools on the upper shafts, a plurality of laterally adjustable lower yoke plates constrained to move with associated upper yoke plates and operably connected to respective tools on the lower shafts, and electric motors operably connected to positively laterally displace each associated pair of tools, a tool positional control device for each associated pair of upper and lower tools mounted for movement laterally of said direction, stop switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with each associated pair of tools and the other being mounted to be movable with the associated device, directional switch means in circuit with said motor and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with the associated device, means for independently adjusting said devices to set each in a position corresponding to that to be assumed by the associated tool and at the same time setting said motor directional switch means so that when the motor is energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction, said means for independently energizing said motors for adjusting said tools toward desired position, each stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that the associated motor is stopped when the tool reaches its desired position.
 14. In a converting machine having a tool adapted to perform an operation upon work passed through the machine in a predetermined direction, means mounting said tool for adjustment laterally of said direction comprising an electric motor operably connected to positively laterally displace said tool, a tool positional control device mounted for movement laterally of said direction, calibrated means for selective positioning of said laterally movable device, said movable device being carried on an endless chain driven by means of said calibrated means, stop switch means and cooperating stop switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, directional switch means and cooperating directional switch actuating means, one being mounted to be movable with said tool and the other being mounted to be movable with said device, means for adjusting said device to set it in a position corresponding to that to be assumed by said tool and at the same time setting saiD motor directional switch means so that when the motor is energized it will effect movement of said tool in the required direction, and means for energizing said motor for adjusting said tool toward said position, said stop switch means and the switch actuating means therefor being so constructed and arranged that said motor is stopped when said tool reaches said position. 